QUOTE (X-Offender @ Sep 18 2015, 08:50 PM)
Bertolacci played alongside Kucka in the double pivot of Gasperini's 3-4-3. It wouldn't make any sense playing him in the AM position simply because he makes runs inside the box. With that logic, we could also play Nocerino there.
As for the Monto-De Jong argument, I'm not in favor of the latter in the Rino role. That worked for Rino mainly because he had a team of world class players who knew how to keep possession and not lose the ball. With the midfield of dimwits we have, losing one CM spot to a "destroyer" like De Jong would only make things worse. If De Jong must play, it should be as anchor with Monto as CM. But I'm not in favor of the opposite.
Defense shouldn't be touched, yes.
I really think we lack one good midfielder in there, and that's counting Bertolacci as well. Poli, Nocerino, Kucka and Honda are all mediocre to terrible players that don't deserve a starting spot.
XXXXX - Monto - Bertolacci
Bonaventura
Now that Bertolacci is out as well, we have two vacant midfield positions that will be filled by unworthy players. Thanks again, baldy.
We played Urby and Boateng there...
I just don't think Berto is a good enough CM to play the type of role we need him to in our 3-man midfield.
As for De Jond and Monto, I don't get what the dilemma is here if we shift De Jong to the side and play Monto in the centre we'd gain a proper regista playing in his best position and give him someone who can really recover balls for him quickly while also helping out the defence.
You're saying if we play De Jong on the side we'd be losing out on a CM there, true, but isn't it the same case as when we play him in the centre and lose out on having someone who's the centre figure that can really control the game?
Also, what would it benefit us to bench one of our best midfielders when we're not really swimming in quality in that position?
For me our best trio in midfield would be
Monto
De Jong--Berto/Bona
The trequartista for me depends on who we're playing. Against a top side we should go for the extra mid, meaning Bona playing there. Against smaller sides I'd go with Menez or Balo
QUOTE (maldini03 @ Sep 18 2015, 09:23 PM)
Has anyone else thought about changing things a bit to accommodate De Jong, Monto, Berto, and Bona? I don't think with the system we have that playing a midfield 3 and a play maker suits any one of them. What if we transitioned to a 4-2-2-2. I've never really seen it in practice but in theory it might work.
The defense would be left alone from the last game, and IMO Abate should even be the captain. Ideally we'd play a double pivot with NDJ and Monto filling those roles, the forward two midfielders would ideally interchange with one another, in support of the two forwards. I would imagine that the team would be a little too lopsided with players being forward, but neither Bona nor Berto are play makers, so they would essentially be box to box players set further forward to accommodate their lack of play making skill.
It's an idea that kind of just hit me and I don't know if it would work, but its food for thought. I doubt Miha will change the system but unfortunately we don't have the proper players to fit the system.
As far as Kucka and Poli go I think they are good bench players. Kucka showed some fire and skill against an Inter midfield which is being lauded as one of the best in the league (I don't buy it). The guy looks hungry, and despite not having skill I'd rather guys like him and Poli on the bench who give it all when their number is called.
As far as the forwards go I would rather have Adriano start from the bench with Balo getting the start alongside Bacca. For some reason Adriano reminds me so much of Robinho when he was here. A good player to have on the bench and can put in a great performance now and then, but frustrates me to no end with his finishing.
I personally don't agree about a 4-4-2 type formation, we don't have the players for it either. Bona imo is not a winger, sure he can pull off a left mid type role but to what end? In that type of formation I personally think that the creativity and cutting edge need to come from the wings and we don't have the players for it.
We have a bunch of central mids atm, none of them are all that good, but we can make a diamond midfield work if Miha find the right formula in terms of both personnel and tactics/approach
Also, agree about Balo and Adriano. Balo imo as born to be a SS, not a lone striker fighting for crossed balls or playing with his back to goal as a lamp post. Give him the freedom to play a supporting role to Bacca and I think we could see something really great from him
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Sep 18 2015, 10:10 PM)
I already said in another thread that 4-4-2 is the best formation we can play on paper given our players, though I'm not sure it can actually work in practice. Bonaventura has played that role at Atalanta, but Bertolacci is more of a CM than a winger.
I really want Miha to give Suso a few games before he discards him completely. He's doing the same mistake Pippo made. Play him once, and if he has a bad game then bench him for the rest of the season. Everyone was crap against Empoli in the first half, it's not fair to take it out on Suso.
The problem with Suso is he doesn't seem to fit in. For me he's not an AM, doesn't have the vision or creative genius in him to pull it off. His constant shooting is also a problem.
Maybe we could try him out in a Di Maria type role, but aside from that I don't think he can make much of an impact for us playing behind the strikers